Author Archives: dblack

On May 18th, the Glendale Police Department SWAT robot visited the Engineering and Manufacturing classes at Clark Magnet High. Students learned how robotics plays an essential role in protecting human life in tactical situations posing a threat to safety. Students were able to try operating the robot’s multi-jointed manipulator arm and tank track system, which was easily able to climb stairs and overcome obstacles.

At the Clark Magnet Senior Awards Night on May 16st, 2016, instructor David Black (photo left) presented a total of $15,000 in scholarships to twelve recipient students. For the past five years, the school has worked tirelessly to improve and grow its advanced engineering and manufacturing program, which now includes a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing lab. By partnering with the Gene Haas Foundation, Clark was able to award twelve scholarships this year to these very deserving students who are pursuing further studies in machinist-based training and engineering programs at 2-year colleges and 4-year universities. Now in its second year, the Gene Haas Scholarship has awarded a total of $30,000 in scholarships to 21 graduating students from Clark Magnet High.

After a lot of scripting, filming, editing, and uploading, we’re finally ready to release our first set of equipment training videos. These videos will serve as a good introductory resource for students to become acquainted with the tools and equipment used in the manufacturing industry. Check them out on the How-To Videos page. More videos will follow in the coming weeks.

Attention students: Do you like working hard, participating as a member of a competitive team, and gaining new skills? You may be interested in joining Clark’s award-winning FIRST Robotics Team 696 for the 2016-17 school year! We are looking for students with skills in a variety of areas such as Video Production, Web Development, Engineering, Design, and more. Applications are now open at www.team696.org/apply. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM THIS FRIDAY, 4/22/16 to be considered for the 2016-17 team. Students who desire to take part in other engineering-related extracurricular projects after school should also apply through the above link.

Over the week of April 11 through 15, two students and instructor David Black participated in a week long training offered by the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) and hosted at Glendale Community College in partnership with the Glendale Community College Professional Development Center. Over the week, the three earned a total of 15 nationally-recognized machining credentials in the areas of measurement, materials and safety, job planning, benchwork, and layout, lathe turning chucking, lathe turning between centers, milling, drill press, CNC mill operation, CNC mill programming, CNC lathe operation, and CNC lathe programming. Earning the certification was a rigorous process, consisting of manufacturing parts to very tight tolerances from provided blueprints and passing extensive online theory and application examinations which included mathematics for manufacturing. Over the course of the 1-week training and the prior week of preparation, the participants spent a total of approximately 80 hours, or one-semester worth of time working on the projects and taking exams. The three are now the first ever students and instructor from Glendale Unified School District to be NIMS credentialed, and hope to assist more students in earning their NIMS credentials during the 2016-17 school year.

Attention students! Are you planning to study in an engineering or manufacturing related discipline after high school? If so, apply for the Gene Haas Scholarship by clicking here. A total of $15,000 in scholarships will be awarded to Clark students this year. Applications will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Friday, April 15th.

Before heading to the FIRST Robotics regional competition, students from Clark Magnet High School’s Team 696 visited the Haas Automation Factory in Oxnard, CA. There, they were greeted by tour guide Kenneth Foulks who gave students valuable insight into the manufacturing industry and future careers. The students were also able to see a live demonstration of 5-axis machining on a Haas UMC-750 and tour the catwalk above the factory floor where Haas machines are assembled. With more than 1,000,000 square feet of production floor, the Haas factory in Oxnard, California is one of the largest manufacturing facilities in the state, if not the western half of the country. At peak production output, Haas manufactures up to 1800 machines every month!

Autodesk’s CAM solution for Inventor has been updated to include turning capabilities and AnyCAD support, which allows it to import model data from virtually any other CAD application. Inventor HSM is integrated seamlessly into Inventor and allows users to easily take their ideas from concept to completion using one software product. CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) software is used to generate toolpaths which are then translated into commands for CNC machines to produce precision components from raw materials.

The 2016 VEX Competition game has been announced and it looks to be an exciting challenge for young engineers. Robots must score balls into goals in the corners of the 12′ X 12′ field. Points are awarded based on how high off the ground the goal is, and whether or not the ball scored is a bonus ball.

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973): The Board of Education prohibits, at any district school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying targeted at any student by anyone, based on the student's actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The District will take steps to assure that the lack of English will not be a barrier to admission and participation in district programs. Complaints alleging noncompliance with this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to Dr. Lena Richter, (818) 241-3111. A copy of the District's Uniform Complaint Policy is available by calling (818) 241-3111. The District's Title IX Coordinator is Dr. Kelly King, (818) 241-3111. The District's 504 Coordinator is Beatriz Bautista, (818) 241-3111